Christine Lopes Metcalfe: Giving Students the Tools for Success
Christine Lopes Metcalfe, GoLocalProv Guest MINDSETTER™
Christine Lopes Metcalfe: Giving Students the Tools for Success
What exactly are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? Adopted by 45 states and Washington, D.C., CCSS are new, universal guidelines for what students should master at every grade level to graduate with the skills they need to thrive after high school. Prior to the adoption of these standards, what one student was expected to know by fourth grade in one state could have been completely different than what was expected from a fourth-grader in another state. But why is that important? States across the country had a variety of different standards and benchmarks that ranged from high to low. With the bar equalized, we now know that students across the country are being held to the same rigorous standards that are critical to preparing them to compete with each other and globally in a 21st century economy.
New standards was a state led initiative
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCreation of the new standards was a state-led initiative started in 2007 by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Part of that process included teachers, parents, school administrators, state leaders, and experts from across the country providing input in the development of the standards. The Common Core standards are clear, consistent and actually consist of fewer standards that allow educators to dive deeper into content and critical thinking. The Common Core State Standards are not designed to tell teachers what to teach – they are an outline of what students should know. This is reflected in a 2013 survey that showed 77% of teachers support the Common Core.
States that voluntary adopted CCSS were also able to adapt parts of the standards to better fit their state’s needs and allow districts to chose and create their own curriculums to match. The Common Core focuses on developing skills employers want and employees need to be competitive: critical thinking, not just memorizing facts and figures.
In addition to the need for common standards, Rhode Island is among the states that need more rigorous benchmarks to ensure students are ready for their post-secondary challenges, whether in college or career. Rhode Island high school students often graduate unprepared to succeed in college: in the 2012-13 school year, 69 percent of the students had to enroll in at least one remedial course at CCRI, costing students around $5.4 million —all without earning college credit .
Changing future outcomes
The need for students to succeed in life after high school with some type of post-secondary training has never been more crucial for Rhode Island. With unemployment at 9%, the very highest in the country and a growing skills gap, the first place we must look to change future outcomes is in our schools. According to the new report “Rhode to Work,” a legislative action plan for workforce development created by the Rhode Island Senate, “more than 50% of jobs in 2020 will require some form of post-secondary education or training. ” With only around 30% of Rhode Islanders possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher and job growth in middle and skilled level jobs growing faster than entry-level and lower skilled work, the imperative is clear: Rhode Island needs higher standards and better outcomes from its education system.
Change is never easy and can be daunting to many, but it’s necessary in our state right now. By adopting and implementing Common Core, we are one step closer to giving our students the skills not just to succeed in their own careers but to revitalize Rhode Island’s economy and put our state back to work.
Rhode Island School Superintendent Salaries
34. New Shoreham
Superintendent Robert Hicks
Salary: $45,280
District Profile
Student Body Size: 112
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $4,443,923
Note: Position is part-time.
33. Little Compton
Superintendent Kathryn M. Crowley
Salary: $63,500
District Profile
Student Body Size: 295
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $6,995,203
Note: Position is part-time.
32. Jamestown
Superintendent Marcia Lukon
Salary: $67,039
District Profile
Student Body Size: 481
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $12,049,735
Note: Position is part-time.
31. Johnston
Superintendent Bernard DiLullo, Jr.
Salary: $121,456
Longevity Pay: $2,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,917
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $50,452,203
Salary includes longevity pay.
30. Tiverton
Superintendent William J. Rearick
Salary: $125,032
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,738
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $28,715,478
29. North Providence
Superintendent Melinda Smith
Salary: $127,600
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,301
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $47,235,638
28. North Smithfield
Superintendent Stephen Lindberg
Salary: $129,854
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,704
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $23,498,113
27. Portsmouth
Superintendent Lynn Krizic
Salary: $132,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,590
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $36,591,167
26. West Warwick
Superintendent Karen Tarasevich
Salary: $134,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,374
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $53,918,748
25. Exeter-West Greenwich
Superintendent James H. Erinakes II
Salary: $135,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,678
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $32,331,544
24. Narragansett
Superintendent Katherine E. Sipala
Salary: $138,485
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,407
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $26,850,371
23. Burrillville
Superintendent Frank Pallotta
Salary: $139,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,418
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $31,681,821
22. Smithfield
Superintendent Robert O'Brien
Salary: $141,481
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,349
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $34,311,788
21. Foster-Glocester
Superintendent Michael S. Barnes
Salary: $141,756
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,226
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $18,267,711
20. Bristol-Warren
Superintendent Melinda Thies
Salary: $142,550
Longevity Pay: $2,550
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,454
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $51,591,792
19. East Greenwich
Superintendent Victor Mercurio
Salary: $144,279
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,323
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $32,975,952
18. East Providence
Superintendent Kim Mercer
Salary: $144,279
District Profile
Student Body Size: 5,338
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $77,242,920
17. Central Falls
Superintendent Frances Gallo
Salary: $144,900
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,724
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $51,519,366
16. Coventry
Superintendent Michael Almeida
Salary: $145,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,970
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $67,620,141
15. Cranston
Superintendent Judith Lundsten
Salary: $145,083
District Profile
Student Body Size: 10,030
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $140,651,662
14. North Kingstown
Superintendent Phillip Auger
Salary: $145,352
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,398
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $61,636,874
13. Westerly
Superintendent Roy Seitsinger
Salary: $146,477
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,030
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,015,253
12. Barington
Superintendent Michael Messore
Salary: $147,500
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,101
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $44,851,748
Note: Salary includes longevity pay.
11. Chariho
Superintendent Barry J. Ricci
Salary: $149,030
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,421
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,831,939
Note: District includes towns of Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton.
10. Lincoln
Superintendent Georgia Fortunato
Salary: $149,130
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,236
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $49,551,778
9. Woonsocket
Superintendent Giovanna M. Donoyan
Salary: $150,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 5,636
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $77,022,482
8. Scituate
Superintendent Paul R. Lescault
Salary: $150,098
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,492
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $22,330,940
7. South Kingstown
Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow
Salary: $151,008
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,393
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $59,950,442
6. Middletown
Superintendent Rosemarie K. Kraeger
Salary: $154,059
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,360
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $37,340,131
5. Newport
Superintendent John H. Ambrogi
Salary: $155,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,005
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $39,683,489
4. Cumberland
Superintendent Philip Thorton
Salary: $158,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,470
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,508,846
3. Pawtucket
Superintendent Deborah A. Cylke
Salary: $159,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 9,072
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $112,889,497
2. Warwick
Superintendent Richard D'Agostino
Salary: $169,371
Longevity Pay: $2,480
District Profile
Student Body Size: 9,487
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $162,729,013
1. Providence
Superintendent Susan Lusi
Salary: $190,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 22,432
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $364,621,277
